'Interim' No More; Konopek Sworn in as Police Chief

The 17-year Plainfield Police Department veteran was awarded the top law enforcement job after holding it on a temporary basis since February.

After an eight-month tryout, John Konopek can remove "interim" from in front of his Plainfield police chief title. The 17-year department veteran was officially sworn in Monday night as the village's top law enforcement officer. Mayor Michael Collins did the honors at the Plainfield Village Board meeting, with Konopek's wife standing at her husband's side. Konopek was tapped to fill the job on a temporary basis in mid-February. He succeeded William Doster, who retired after just two years due to an unexpected, undisclosed health ailment. "We have had a history of great police chiefs; we've had one for 25 years," said Collins, himself a retired police officer. "We welcome Mr. Konopek (to the job)." The police chief is appointed by the mayor…

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Eyes on Plainfield

5:32 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013

OK Stacy...so they use their cell phones for "whatever", but while DRIVING?? This sends a very bad message to the public, especially the younger drivers. Plainfield recently passed a "distracted driving" rule and this action by police officers using their cell phones while driving sends a mixed message to drivers. And I have seen Plainfield Police Officers with their hands up by the wheel …   more ›

Village Trustees Say No Thanks to Pay Raise Proposal

The recessionary economy is wrong time to be approving the per-meeting stipend from $100 to $125, one board member says.

Despite having approved an $8,000 pay raise for the mayor's job in July, Plainfield Village Board members opted to reject a much smaller trustee raise Monday night. With a 4-2 vote, the board rejected increasing the per-meeting fee from $100 to $125, an increase that would not have gone into effect until after the April 2013 election for three board seats and after the April 2015 election for the remaining two seats. The proposal was voted down by Trustees Dan Rippy, Garrett Peck, Margie Bonuchi and Bill Lamb. Trustees Paul Fay and Jim Racich voted in favor of it. Trustees are not allowed to approve a pay raise for themselves, according to state law. They can only OK increases that go into effect after an election. The same applies to the …

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Sheila Raddatz

8:35 am on Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Eyes, I agree and don't agree slightly. I agree that more payouts is not comfortable for any budget. Where I disagree, and technically agree again with you, is that perhaps with slightly more pay, maybe more of the "more qualified" people (as you put it) or more people that fit the demographics of the area would be encouraged to run on the board. We need people on the board that will represent …   more ›

Finnegan's to Reopen Next Week Once Debts Are Settled, Mayor Says

Mayor Michael Collins said the state revoked the restaurant/bar's liquor license because owner Dale Lewis was in "arrears" financially.

Finnegan's Irish Pub, which lost its state liquor license Friday, should be back in business next week, Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins said Saturday. Collins, the village's liquor commissioner, said Finnegan's owner Dale Lewis assured him he will have no problem quickly resolving the debts he owes that led to the license revocation. "I talked to Mr. Lewis yesterday and he told me he expected he would get his recertification by the early part of next week," he said. "We certainly don't want a viable business like that to close." Collins said Lewis was in "arrears" on some payments but would not to specify if the debts were tied to taxes or to vendors. According to Crain's Chicago Business' ChicagoRealEstateDaily.com, two liens are pending…

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Mayor: Water-Damaged Building Can't Be Leased Until Fixed

The owners of The Perfect Invitation say they lost their lease because of their complaints, but building owner says he gave them notice when they failed to sign new lease.

Twice in the last year and a half, Greg and Tina Estopare have thrown out thousands of dollars in inventory from their downtown Plainfield business because of water damage from the apartment upstairs. The first time, a broken toilet was to blame. The second incident began with a leak and ended with a broken water heater that sent water flowing into their stationery store, The Perfect Invitation. Building owner Joe Conklin fixed the toilet and water heater, they said, but he never repaired the water damage and refused to file an insurance claim to compensate the couple for their $20,000 loss. The Estopares allege that when they began complaining about chunks of the ceiling falling down and the smell of mold, he responded by canceling their …

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Edward's Tax Exempt Loss Could Be Local Boon

But there are downsides, including the loss of free services for the needy, and likely a long string of court hearings ahead.

The Illinois Department of Revenue’s decision to yank Edward Hospital's tax-exempt status could mean additional millions for Plainfield’s financially strapped taxing districts – if it survives the legal challenges that are guaranteed to come. But the downside may be the elimination or drastic reduction of the millions in free services the Naperville-based hospital provides annually for the indigent and a big cut in the money available to invest in new equipment and facilities, such as new hospital long-desired by Plainfield officials. Edward donated $77 million in charitable care and community benefit programs in 2010. It’s a double-edged sword, said Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins, who does not agree with the revenue department’s …

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Susan Milewski

9:37 am on Friday, August 19, 2011

@ Jerry: what would have prevented this tsunami of uninsured showing up at hospitals such as Edward Hospital would have neen universal healthcare for all Americans as a human necessity and not as a privilege or a luxury reserved for those who can afford it. Why is it that other industrialized countries can do this but not America ? I am disappointed that Obama caved into the republican …   more ›

About Town

Mayor and His 'Little Brother' to Judge Dessert Contest

It's all part of the annual Big Brothers Big Sister fundraiser, at which they're hoping to find adults to pair with 94 children needing mentors.

Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins is getting a new little brother. But the stork doesn’t play a role in this story. Big Brothers Big Sisters is matching up Collins with 11-year-old Ty, a Plainfield sixth-grader, so the two can be bros for an afternoon as part of the organization's annual fundraiser at Joliet’s Renaissance Center. As part of the event, Collins will be one of 12 judges in a competition for the most "decadent" dessert and Ty will be helping him narrow down the winner. Each judge will have an "assistant," including Will County Executive Larry Walsh, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann and state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-Joliet). The idea is draw attention to the fact that there are 94 area children waiting for a big brother or sister, …

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Plainfield Honors Veterans with Annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

The hot weather brought out a crowd of nearly 1,000, but also sent at least two band members to the hospital with heat-related illnesses.

On a sun-splashed and sultry Memorial Day morning, David Foeder joined roughly 1,000 Plainfield residents who delayed their cook-out plans to salute our country’s fallen heroes in a ceremony at Settlers’ Park. For Foeder, the annual American Legion Parade and Salute on Monday also served as an opportunity to pay tribute to friend Greg Roach, a soldier who was recently sent to the Middle East. “We’ve got a good friend who’s been just deployed to Afghanistan and we thought it was appropriate to bring our kids out and show them how we respect and honor those who serve for us,” Foeder said. With a large contingent of flag-waving patrons wearing red, white, and blue on hand, several speakers, including Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins, address …

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Mark Your Calendar: Memorial Day Parade Starts at 10:30 a.m.

Annual parade gathers at Plainfield Central High School and follows a path to Settlers' Park, where a ceremony will be held.

It wouldn't be Memorial Day without the American Legion's annual parade. This year, the gathering will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Plainfield Central High School at Fort Beggs Drive and James Street and will proceed to Settlers' Park behind Plainfield Village Hall, 24401 W. Lockport St. The official ceremony begins in the park at 11 a.m., with speakers including Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins; the Rev. David Medow, pastor of St. Mary Immaculate Parish; and state Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego), according to Marilyn Pecoraro, wife of Plainfield American Legion Marne Post 13 Cmdr. Frank Pecoraro. Three high school bands will also play, Pecoraro said, and other groups, including the Knights of Columbus, will participate. When the ceremony is over, the…

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New Hospital in Plainfield's a Top Village Priority

Although currently on hold, the project was one of the main things Mayor Michael Collins discussed with legislators a few weeks ago and it will be part of a new comprehensive plan.

When Will County officials descended on Springfield a few weeks ago to push their legislative agendas, there was one thing at the top of Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins’ list: Edward Hospital. Specifically, making sure state officials know the village has not given up its desire to win state approval for a new Edward medical center in Plainfield. It’s been more than four years since Naperville-based Edward Hospital first proposed an eight-story, 162-bed acute care hospital for its 60-acre medical campus at 127th Street and Van Dyke Road, where a cancer center, 24-hour emergency facility, outpatient center and medical office complex already exist. Edward has no current plans to revive the project but that doesn’t mean Plainfield can’t …

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Mayor Pens Letter Opposing Cutoff of Income Tax Dollars to Municipalities

Michael Collins says the amount that would be taken from the village is equal to the combined budgets of the planning and building inspection departments.

Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins wrote this letter in opposition to Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal that about $1 billion in state income tax earmarked for Illinois municipalities be diverted to state coffers if the General Assembly refuses to approve Quinn's plan to borrow $4.75 billion to pay off some of the state's $8 billion debt.   Representative Michael Madigan Speaker of the House 300 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706   Dear Speaker Madigan: I am writing to voice the Village of Plainfield's opposition to recent proposals that reduce or suspend payment of revenues that are collected by the State on behalf of local municipalities. The argument of shared sacrifice rings hollow. I can assure you we have already been to that altar. As the…

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